Vladimir Putin: Ukraine must remain 1 entity

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukraine must remain one political entity, voicing hope that the crisis could be solved through peace talks.

Putin also said Thursday that the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine should conduct a quick "all for all" prisoners swap before Christmas. He said he feels sure that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko sincerely wants a peaceful solution to the crisis, but some other forces in Ukraine don't.

Putin urged the Ukrainian government to fulfill its end of a peace deal reached in September and grant amnesty to the rebels and offer broad rights to residents of the country's east.

At his lengthy annual press conference, Putin also touched on the current value of the ruble, the Russian economy, Western sanctions, political opponents and his country's plans for hosting the 2018 soccer World Cup.